NEWS ALERT: Cambodia suspends deportation agreement with US

Cambodia told Washington on Tuesday April 25, 2017 that it would no longer accept convicted criminals with Cambodian heritage being deported to Cambodia.

SUAB HMONG NEWS (04/26/2017) – For the last 15 years, Cambodia and the United States had a repatriation agreement allowing them to forcibly deport criminals back to Cambodia.

Cambodia told Washington on Tuesday April 25, 2017 that it would no longer accept convicted criminals with Cambodian heritage being deported to Cambodia.

According to an article on www.straitstimes.com, more than 500 felons with Cambodian heritage have been deported from the US.

“It is necessary to amend the agreement because so far it has been criticized by both Cambodians in here and Cambodian communities in the US as well as those who had been sent back to Cambodia that they seem to receive a double punishment,” said Chum Sounry, a Spokesman for Cambodia’s foreign ministry.

He added that Cambodia would soon submit a proposal for a new deportation deal adding that repatriations should only be voluntary and that deportees should have the right to visit family in the US.

The US embassy in Phnom Penh told AFP it had been informed of Cambodia’s desire to renegotiate certain aspects of the agreement.

Relations between the United States and Cambodia have grown increasingly frosty in recent years.

Cambodia had a repatriation agreement with the US from the last 15 years. Laos and Vietnam do not have repatriation agreement with the US.